Electrical timer with improved resilient contact mounting at ganged housing section complementary interfaces

ABSTRACT

Stages of cam program means and electrical switching means responsive to the cam program means are carried in open ended housings which are disposed in axially aligned juxtaposition with the mating of projections and notches formed as part of the housings.

United States Patent Jones et al.

(15 1 4 3,699,278 [4 1' Oct. 17,1972

[54] ELECTRICAL TIMER WITH IMPROVED RESILIENT CONTACT MOUNTING AT GANGEDHOUSING SECTION COMPLEMENTARY INTERFACES lnvento'rssLewis E.' Jones;Daniel W. Bernhardt, both of Indianapolis, Ind.

P. R. Mallory 8: Co., Inc., Indianapolis, Ind.

Filed: Sept. 28, 1970 Appl. No.: 75,855

Assignee:

U.S. Cl ..200/38 R, 200/38 B, 200/166 J Int. Cl. ..H0lh 7/08, HOlh43/10, I'IOlh 1/28 Field of Search ..200/14, 38 R, 168 S, 166 J [56]References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,308,249 3/1967 Cullen ..200/143,553,720 1/1971 Brown ..200/38 R 3,581,028 5/1971 Valbona ..200/166 1 X3,136,985 6/1964 Robinson et al. ...200/38 R X 3,319,019 5/1967Jullien-Davin ..200/38 R 3,373,253 3/1968 Davin ..200/38 R PrimaryExaminer-J. R. Scott Attorney-Richard 1-1. Childress, Robert F. Meyerand Henry W. Cummings [57] ABSTRACT Stages of cam program means andelectrical switching means responsive to the cam program means arecarried in open ended housings which are disposed in axially alignedjuxtaposition with the mating of projections and notches formed as partof the housings.

8 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PAIENTEDnm 11 I972 SHEET 1 BF 2 INVENTORSLEWIS E. JONES DANIEL W. BERNHARDT ATTgR NEY f v PATENTEDnm 17 1972SHEET 2 BF 2 INVENTORS LEWIS E. JONES DANIEL W. BERNHAR DT BYW ATTORNEYELECTRICAL TIMER WITH IMPROVED RESILIENT CONTACT MOUNTING AT GANGEDHOUSING SECTION COMPLEMENTARY INTERFACES The present invention relatesgenerally to electric switch actuating timing devices and concernsatiming device well suited for controlling various operating cycles inappliances such as washers, dryers, etc.

In any particular appliance, various switch circuit arrangements areneeded, depending upon the timing cycle desired. For example, in anautomatic washer or dryer, a single pole double throw, or a double poledouble' throw switching arrangement may be needed. Additionally, aparticular washer or dryer may require many more timing cycles thanwould be required in another type washer. Under such situations, itwould be advantageous if the number of programs could be easilyincreased or decreased as the need arose.

The present invention is concerned with a timing device and has as oneof its objects the provision of a timing device wherein differentswitching circuits are readily obtainable and which'is also neat,compact and easily produced.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a timingdevice having stages of cam program means and electrical switchingmeans.

Yet another object of the invention is the provision of a timing devicehaving stages of cam program means and electrical switching meanscarried by individual housings which can be readily joined together ordisengaged from each other.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a timing devicehaving stages of cam program means and electrical switching meansdisposed within individual housings and wherein the housings haveprojections and notches adapted to mate corresponding projections andnotches of an adjacent housing.

Yet still another object of the invention is to provide a timing devicehaving stages of cam program means and electrical switching meanswherein the individual cam program means are carried by a common shaft.

Another object of the invention is to provide a timing device havingstages of cam program means and electrical switching means wherein theindividual cam program means are coupled together and wherein one of thecam program means is coupled to a constant speed drive means through aclutch means.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a timing devicehaving stages of cam program means and electrical switching meanswherein there is a unidirectional means insuring that the program meanswill be rotated in a predetermined direction.

Yet still another object of the invention is the provision of a timingdevice having stages of cam program means and electrical switching meanscarried in individual housings, the housings being axially aligned injuxtaposition through mating projections and notches and wherein theelectrical switching means includes at least two movable contact bladeshaving electrical contacts adapted to engage one another, cam followermeans carried by one of the contact blades, and blade seating meansdisposed at the free end of the movable contact blade, the contactblades and the seating means being carried by the mated projections andnotches.

These and other objects of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing description when taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of the timing device;

FIG. 2 is a partial cross section of the timing device;

FIG. 3 is a view taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is an end view of the timing device with an end cover beingremoved.

Generally speaking, the objects of the invention are accomplished-byproviding a timing device which has stages of cam program means andelectrical switching means responsive to the cam program means, ahousing substantially surrounding each of the stages, each of thehousings being disposed in axially aligned juxtaposition through themating of projections and notches included with each housing, with theelectrical switching means being carried by the housings, shaft meansextending through the axially aligned housings carrying the individualcam program means, cover means disposed at the opposite ends of theaxiallyv aligned juxtaposition housings, constant speed drive meanscarried by one of the cover means, and means coupling the camprogramming means to the constant speed drive means.

Referring now to the drawings and particularly FIGS. 1 and 2, thereisshown a timing device 10 incorporating the novel features of thepresent invention. The timing device is composed oftwo sub-assemblies, aconstant speed drive assembly 11 and switch timing mechanism 12.Constant speed drive assembly 11 includes a suitable motor such as asynchronous motor 11' to which is coupled an appropriate gear traincarried in housing 11".

In general, switch timing mechanism 12 includes stages 1 and 2, eachstage including a cam program means 14 and 15 and electrical switchingmeans 16 responsive to the rotation of the cam program means. Each ofthe stages are enclosed in a housing 18 and 19 generally of a ringconfiguration, each having a cover means 18' and 19' closing one end ofthe rings. As shown, cover means 19 is a separate piece while covermeans 18', while not necessary, is unitarily constructed with ringmember 18. It should be understood, that more than two stages, and thusmore than two separate housings, could be used if more programs aredesired. Thus if four programs are desired, there could be two morehousings generally in the shape of rings similar to that of rings 18 and19, the four rings then being closed off. There are cooperatingprojections 17 and notches 21 included as elements of the housings andcover means adapted to be mated together such that the housings withtheir cover means are axially aligned in juxtaposition. The stages areheld together by screws 13 and 13' engaging internally threaded posts 23and 23.

Cam program means 14 and 15 each include a cam means 14' and 15' bothcarried by a common shaft means 20. The cams 14 and 15' are rotationallycoupled together through pin 22 which protrudes from cam means 14' andextends into an aperture 24 provided in cam means 15'. Each of the cammeans 14 and 15 have coded indicia on their outer periphery to actuatethe electrical switching means 16 in accordance with a program cycle.Cam means 14 is coupled to constant speed drive means 11 through motoroutput pinion 26, gear 28 and unidirectional clutch means 30.Unidirectional clutch means 30 includes a clutch face 32 carried by gear28 and clutch face 34 carried by cam means 14'. Clutch face 32 includesa multiplicity of oriented fibers 32 adapted to engage serrated teeth 34of clutch face 34. Thus cam means 14 and can be manually rotated in onedirection by allowing teeth 34' to over-ride the oriented fibers 32 andcan be driven by constant speed drive means 11 by having the orientedfibers engage the teeth 34 when being driven in the same direction. Awrong-way manual rotation is further prevented through a secondunidirectional clutch means 36.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, unidirectional clutch means 36 includes acam means 38 having an arcuate step 40 adapted to engage a stop means 42carried by shaft means for manual rotation. When shaft means 20 isrotated in the wrong direction, stop means 42 disengages step 40. Cammeans 38 is integrally or otherwise coupled to cam means 14. Preferablythe face of step 40 would be in axial alignment with an indicator meansassociated with a knob carried by the shaft means (not shown) used formanual rotation, such that orientation of the program means is readilyachieved;

Switching means 16 includes movable contact blades 44, 46, 48, 50 and 52each carrying electrical contacts 54. For each stage, or program means,one of the contact blades 46, 52 includes a cam follower means, which inthe present invention includes tabs 46' and 52 lanced from the contactblades. A stiffening and guide means 56 aids in keeping blades 46 and 52relatively rigid and maintains alignment between the blades and the cammeans. Stiffening and guide means 56 includes thin strips 56' integrallyor otherwise connected to the contact blade. Also included as part ofthe switching means are fixed contacts 58 and 60 carried by fixedcontact blades 58' and 60' respectively, and blade seating means 62 and64 which limit the movement of the movable contact blades and aids inthe retention of the fixed contact blades. Seating means 62 and 64 areprovided through the cooperation of the appropriate notches andprojections. By using two or three movable contact blades in conjunctionwith the fixed contact as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, and depending upon thecams configuration, various switch sequencing can be achieved. As shown,the fixed and movable contact blades are cantilevered by the cooperatingnotches and projections. Electrical terminals 61 are integral with eachblade.

Cover 19 also includes a mounting means 66 through which the wholetiming unit may be mounted to a suitable base member. Mounting means 66includes a frame member 68 having threaded apertures 70 into whichmounting bolts can be threaded.

What is claimed is:

l. A timing device comprising:

a. a shaft means,

b. a plurality of ring means surrounding said shaft means,

c. individual cam means disposed within each of said ring means andcarried by said shaft means,

d. spaced projections extending from one end of said ring, notches inthe opposed ends and substantially aligned with said projections, eachof said rin s dlsposed in axially aligned uxtaposition throug the matingof said projections and notches, elfirst cover means disposed at one endof said axially aligned juxtaposition rings, constant speed drive meanscarried by said cover means, means coupling said drive means to anindividual cam means including clutch means, means coupling saidindividual cam means together,

g. second cover means disposed at the opposite end of said axiallyaligned juxtaposition rings, said cover means including notches andprojections mating with notches and projections with the ring it closes,

h. at least two movable contact blades having electrical contacts at oneend thereof adapted to engage one another, cam follower means carried byone of said contact blades responsive to said cam program means, theother end of said contact blades cantilevered by said mated notches andprojections,

i. said shaft means journalled in said first and second cover means.

2. A timing device according to claim 1 further including at least onefixed contact means carried by said mating notches and projections andcooperating with at least one of said movable contacts. I

3. A timing device according to claim 1 further including blade seatingdisposed at said end of said blades carrying said electrical contactsand cantilevered by said mated notches and projections.

4. A timing device according to claim 1 wherein said clutch meansincludes a gear carried by said shaft means andcoupled to said drivemeans, said gear having a serrated face adapted to engage a face of saidcam means having fibers oriented in a predetermined direction.

5. A timing device according to claim 1 further including unidirectionalmeans cooperatively connecting one of said cam means of said stages withsaid shaft means.

6. A timing device according to claim 5 wherein said unidirectionalmeans includes an arcuate step carried by one of said cam means and astop means carried by said shaft means engaging said arcuate step.

7. A timing device according to claim 6 wherein said arcuate step isaxially aligned with an indicator means of a knob carried by said shaftmeans.

8. A timing device according to claim 1 wherein said second cover meansincludes mounting means adapted to receive mounting pins.

1. A timing device comprising: a. a shaft means, b. a plurality of ringmeans surrounding said shaft means, c. individual cam means disposedwithin each of said ring means and carried by said shaft means, d.spaced projections extending from one end of said ring, notches in theopposed ends and substantially aligned with said projections, each ofsaid rings disposed in axially aligned juxtaposition through the matingof said projections and notches, e. first cover means disposed at oneend of said axially aligned juxtaposition rings, constant speed drivemeans carried by said cover means, f. means coupling said drive means toan individual cam means including clutch means, means coupling saidindividual cam means together, g. second cover means disposed at theopposite end of said axially aligned juxtaposition rings, said covermeans including notches and projections mating with notches andprojections with the ring it closes, h. at least two movable contactblades having electrical contacts at one end thereof adapted to engageone another, cam follower means carried by one of said contact bladesresponsive to said cam program means, the other end of said contactblades cantilevered by said mated notches and projections, i. said shaftmeans journalled in said first and second cover means.
 2. A timingdevice according to claim 1 further including at least one fixed contactmeans carried by said mating notches and projections and cooperatingwith at least one of said movable contacts.
 3. A timing device accordingto claim 1 further including blade seAting disposed at said end of saidblades carrying said electrical contacts and cantilevered by said matednotches and projections.
 4. A timing device according to claim 1 whereinsaid clutch means includes a gear carried by said shaft means andcoupled to said drive means, said gear having a serrated face adapted toengage a face of said cam means having fibers oriented in apredetermined direction.
 5. A timing device according to claim 1 furtherincluding unidirectional means cooperatively connecting one of said cammeans of said stages with said shaft means.
 6. A timing device accordingto claim 5 wherein said unidirectional means includes an arcuate stepcarried by one of said cam means and a stop means carried by said shaftmeans engaging said arcuate step.
 7. A timing device according to claim6 wherein said arcuate step is axially aligned with an indicator meansof a knob carried by said shaft means.
 8. A timing device according toclaim 1 wherein said second cover means includes mounting means adaptedto receive mounting pins.